Western Bulldogs' Jake Stringer certain to depart AFL club with Essendon and Geelong circling

It seems the Bulldogs missing the finals this season was the least of their issues, with star forward Jake Stringer almost a certainty to depart the Kennel following an irreparable rift with the club.

Stringer, who was a vital part of the Western Bulldogs’ 2016 Premiership, has been strongly linked with Essendon and Geelong who would need to part ways with a first-round draft pick in order to acquire 2015 All-Australian.

"Essendon and Geelong seem to be the two leading contenders for Stringer, and we’re told he’s definitely on the way out," Footy Classified Craig Hutchison said.

The fairy tale club of last season seems to have become anything but 12 months on, with Stringer not the only high-profile player who could find a new home in season 2018.

"One thing that is going on is that there’s no doubt there’s been a premiership hangover," panellist Caroline Wilson said.

Tom Liberatore (l) is another player who is allegedly on the outer at the Western Bulldogs. (AAP)

One of the two clubs set to fight it out for Stringer is Geelong, who are reportedly interested in bringing Gold Coast’s Gary Ablett back home to the Cats.

A potential return for Ablett would squeeze Geelong’s salary cap, and make it nearly impossible for both Ablett and Stringer to be in the blue and white hoops next season.

Geelong might not be able to accommodate Western Bulldogs' Jake Stringer if they manage to lure back Gary Ablett. (AAP)

"It depends what he costs," Hutchison said. "You have to prioritise the Stringer deal ahead of the Ablett deal.

"You can take all the emotional stuff (out of it) and Geelong supporters would love the fact that Gary came back, but he’s 33, 34 with a soft tissue injury history," Lyon supported.

As well as a fair percentage of the salary cap, a relatively high draft pick would need to be put on offer to lure Stringer the Cats.

"The Bulldogs don’t want him," panellist Matthew Lloyd said.

"They don’t want him to play there, he doesn’t want to be there, and so the issue is when every other club knows the Bulldogs don’t want him there next year, suddenly he’s not worth the pick ten or 12, and the industry think he’s worth pick 20.

"The problem is Geelong have no picks what-so-ever because they haven’t got a first round (draft pick) next year, so Essendon are in the frame to get him."

With the trade period opening in just less than a month’s time, expect Jake Stringer to be the focus of widespread speculation and rumours between now and then.